Does True Damage Ignore Shields? Understanding Damage Mechanics
The simple answer is no, true damage does not inherently ignore shields. While true damage is known for bypassing many defensive measures, shields provide a layer of protection against it, just like they do against other types of damage. However, this is where the simplicity ends. The interaction between true damage and shields, and the factors surrounding it, can be surprisingly complex and nuanced. Let’s dive deeper to clarify exactly how shields work with true damage and answer common questions surrounding it.
How Shields Interact With True Damage
Shields, in their most basic form, act as an extra pool of health that must be depleted before damage starts affecting the character’s actual health bar. They absorb damage, regardless of its source. True damage, despite its name, is not an exception.
Think of it like a barrier. If a source of true damage inflicts 100 points of damage, and the target has a shield worth 50 points, the shield will absorb the 50 points of damage and the remaining 50 points will go through to the character’s health. This makes shields a practical defense against true damage, even though they won’t reduce or negate it.
Exception: Type-Specific Shields
It is critical to note that some shields are specifically designed to resist certain types of damage such as physical damage, or magical damage. These shields might have specific mechanics and interactions that can change their effectiveness against different types of damage. For example, a shield that only blocks magical damage would be bypassed by true damage. Similarly, a type-specific shield, such as a “Black Shield,” that specifically counters certain kinds of magic would not be effective against true damage. Thus, a general shield, which does not distinguish between damage types, will absorb true damage.
The Myth of Full Negation
While shields can absorb true damage, they do not negate it entirely. The amount of damage absorbed will depend on the strength of the shield and the incoming damage. True damage cannot be reduced by defenses such as armor or magic resistance, but shields simply absorb a set amount of the damage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About True Damage and Shields
Understanding the subtle ways true damage and shields interact can dramatically improve your game. Here are 15 FAQs to help you master this key mechanic:
1. Does True Damage Always Deal Its Full Value?
True damage generally deals exactly the stated amount of damage, with the only exceptions being when the target is invincible, the projectile is popped, or when it hits a shield.
2. Does True Damage Ignore Armor and Magic Resistance?
Yes, one of the defining features of true damage is its ability to bypass armor and magic resistance. These defensive stats do not mitigate true damage, meaning it will hit for its full value, assuming no shields or invulnerability mechanisms are in place.
3. Can Damage Reduction Affect True Damage?
No, true damage ignores traditional damage reduction. Skills, talents, or items that reduce the percentage of incoming damage generally have no effect on true damage. The full amount will be dealt, provided the character is not invulnerable and does not have a shield.
4. Can Shields Absorb True Damage?
Absolutely, shields can absorb true damage. They function as a separate health pool that is depleted first, regardless of the damage type. A shield will absorb the full amount of damage up to its capacity.
5. Do All Shields Work the Same Against True Damage?
No, while most shields simply absorb the damage, some shields are type specific. They may only work for magical or physical attacks and will not block true damage.
6. Does Exhaust Reduce True Damage?
No, exhaust does not reduce true damage. Exhaust only applies to conventional damage types and has no effect on the flat damage provided by true damage.
7. Is There a Shield That’s Best Against True Damage?
The effectiveness of a shield against true damage depends on its capacity rather than special properties. There’s no special shield that negates true damage more effectively, only those with more health to absorb it.
8. Can Specific Skills Block or Reduce True Damage?
Yes, some skills like invulnerability and the block provided by a skill like Pantheon’s Aegis Assault can negate or block true damage. These skills are specifically designed to counter all incoming damage, including true damage. However, this does not change the fact that true damage itself cannot be reduced.
9. Does Press the Attack (PTA) Increase True Damage?
No, PTA does not amplify true damage. It only enhances the user’s physical damage, meaning any true damage will remain unchanged.
10. Does Conqueror Convert Damage to True Damage?
Yes, the Conqueror rune can convert a portion of your damage into true damage. This converted damage will then bypass traditional defensive mechanics but is still affected by shields.
11. Can Twilight Armor Reduce True Damage?
Yes, Twilight Armor is designed to reduce single instances of damage, even true damage. It’s one of the few items that can mitigate true damage.
12. Does a Shield Increase AC (Armor Class)?
Yes, in some games, wielding a shield increases AC, making your character harder to hit, though this doesn’t directly reduce incoming damage. The damage reduction still depends on armor and magic resistance, which do not effect true damage.
13. Can a Shield Block Trap Damage?
Generally, shields only protect from attack damage, not trap damage. This type of damage might have its own reduction mechanics. This does not apply to true damage though.
14. Does Parrying Negate All Damage?
A perfect parry should negate all incoming damage, including true damage. However, mistimed parries can still result in some damage being taken.
15. Does a Repulsion Shield Negate Damage?
No, a repulsion shield does not negate damage. It might provide some other form of defense, but it will not reduce the damage itself, including true damage. It simply pushes enemies away.
Conclusion
While the name true damage might suggest invulnerability, the mechanics are more balanced. Shields play an important role in mitigating incoming true damage by absorbing its impact like any other type of damage. Knowing how different mechanics interact with true damage gives you a strategic edge. It highlights how important shields can be in protecting you against all forms of damage. By understanding the interaction between true damage and shields, you can better adapt your gameplay, optimize your builds, and effectively counter your opponents.